Built to Last – Stand Firm!

2026-06-28

Charles Billingsley

Introduction:
It was September 13, 1814.  The future of America hung perilously close to annihilation.
The British had already burned the city of Washington, and now they had set their sights on Baltimore.
Fort McHenry was the only barrier protecting Baltimore from falling.   And the British threw everything they could at it.
A fleet of 16 British warships bombarded Fort McHenry for over 25 straight hours with over 700 rockets and 1800 bomb shells.
Watching the battle from a British ship was a young American lawyer. His name was Francis Scott Key.  He was there to negotiate a prisoner release of his good friend William Beanes. He watched as the battle raged on – canons booming, gunfire exploding, bullets flying overhead.
And Francis could only wonder – will the Fort survive?
At dawn when the smoke had cleared and the canon fire had ceased,  Francis  looked out and to his amazement that old fort was still standing and the  American flag was still flying.
Inspired by this sight, He wrote a poem on the back of a letter.
That poem became a song, and that song became our National Anthem.   The Star-Spangled Banner.
And that flag of freedom has been flying ever since.  Through many wars and much death and difficulty and sacrifice – after 250 years, our nation still stands.
And for that we can be very thankful and to that we pray God continues to bless America.
When I hear stories like that it inspires me as an American.
And when I read books like 2 Thessalonians, it inspires me as a Christian.
STAND FIRM!
 
We are at war.  It’s not a physical one, it is spiritual.
But nevertheless it a war.
It is a war over who or what we worship.   it is a war over our minds.  It is a war over our souls.   And it is a war over truth.
But the enemy in this war doesn’t usually stand before us with guns and grenades.
The war we fight is against our old nature – the person we were before we were saved – and against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. – EPH 6:12
 
The Thessalonian church members had discovered this. They were facing difficult days and in addition to that they were confused about some key issues.
So Paul wrote a second letter less than a year after the first one to try and clear up some of their misunderstanding. He is still writing to them from Corinth.  Remember, he was only there for 3 weeks when they started this church, and so there were many questions these new converts still had about spiritual growth, conduct, and the future coming of the Lord.
In the process, he enlightens all of us to important information about the the antiChrist, as we will see.
But also provides us all with great encouragement and wisdom.  Especially for those of us going through some difficult times.
But I want to call your attention to one particular verse that will be the backdrop for my message title today.
2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
NLT  – 15 With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter.
  1. STAND FIRM In your troubles and tribulations
     
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Christians in Thessalonica were facing tremendous persecution from various different groups.  The Jews, the Romans, even pagan gentiles.
It started in Acts 17 when Jewish leaders got upset with Paul’s success in converting both Jews and gentiles to the Christian faith.
The Romans were upset because the viewed Christianity as a direct affront against Emperor Claudius himself because Christians worshiped and proclaimed Jesus as King of Kings.
And the gentiles joined the Jews in their persecution because this new church was a disruption of the social norms and the social construct to which they were accustomed.
3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, (this is a picture of a healthy, happy church). 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer;
Is there a difference between troubles and tribulations?
Yes.
The distinction lies in purpose and perspective: troubles are simply difficult situations that cause suffering or inconvenience, whereas tribulations are hardships that serve as a test of faith, character, or endurance.
Troubles are everyday problems and inconveniences, whereas tribulations are severe, often prolonged periods of suffering, anguish, or hardship. While a trouble might be a broken down car or a difficult day at work, a tribulation refers to a profound ordeal, like recovering from a major illness or enduring profound loss.
Troubles are usually temporary.  Tribulations may last a lifetime.
None of us are exempt from either one!
Greek word for Tribulations is thlipsis.
Figuratively thlipsis pictures one being “crushed” by intense pressure, difficult circumstances, suffering or trouble pressing upon them from without. Thus persecution, affliction, distress, opposition or tribulation, all press hard on one’s soul. Thlipsis does not refer to mild discomfort but to great difficulty. In Scripture the thlipsis is most often used of outward difficulties, but it is also used of emotional stress and sorrows which “weighs down” a man’s spirit like the sorrows and burden his heart. Thlipsis then includes the disappointments which can “crush the life” out of the one who is afflicted.
The English word “tribulation” is derived from the Latin word tribulum (literally a thing with teeth that tears), which was a heavy piece of timber with spikes in it, used for threshing the corn or grain. The tribulum was drawn over the grain and it separated the wheat from the chaff. As believers experience the “tribulum” of tribulations, and depend on God’s grace, the trials purify us and rid us of the chaff.
Getting through tribulations requires three things.  Paul mentions all 3 in vs. 4:
PATIENCE – James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Have you ever prayed for patience?  It may not be a good idea.
But what produces patience, is tribulation!
Patience in the Bible is not typically a passive thing.  It is an active thing.   It is a fruit of the spirit and means that we are actively growing in the Lord even while we are going through a difficult time.
FAITH – Faith that God will carry you through this tribulation.  Faith that He will not leave your or forsake you.  And faith that He will give you the strength to endure it.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for and he evidence of things unseen. – Hebrews 11:1.
When I was in the hospital with COVID,  I wanted to see God heal me, so then I would believe even stronger in his healing power.  I wanted evidence that I could see.  But that’s not faith.   Faith is the evidence of things unseen…I had it backwards. I wanted him to heal me so I could see His work in me and then believe in Him even more deeply.  But what God wanted from me was to Believe in Him more deeply…then I would see His work in me.  I had to believe…..and then I would see. And sure enough….several days later, God did begin to heal me. In HIs timing…not my own.
God reminded me of how faith works in all of this. And this is how faith works in your tribulation, as well.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
ENDURANCE  –   Romans 5:3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Martin Luther wrote that “Whatever virtues tribulation finds us in, it develops more fully. If anyone is carnal, weak, blind, wicked, irascible, haughty, and so forth, tribulation will make him more carnal, weak, blind, wicked and irritable. On the other hand, if one is spiritual, strong, wise, pious, gentle and humble, he will become more spiritual, powerful, wise, pious, gentle and humble.”
When troubles and tribulations come your way, God will provide for your the ability to endure them.  But he will also teach you quite a bit along the way.  Tribulation and troubles grows us up as believers.  It is truly God’s way to mature us as believers.  There are others, but this is God’s primary way.
6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, 7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 12:19 “vengeance is mine, says the Lord”
That day is up to the Lord and the way in which he brings them tribulation is also up to the Lord.  Let HIm handle that.
His vengeance will come to two kinds of people:
Those who do not know God
Those who do not obey the gospel.
Meanwhile, Paul reminds us to stay patient.  Keep the faith.  And continue to endure.  That’s our job.
Vengeance and Justice is God’s job.  Leave it to HIm.
Stand firm in your troubles and your tribulations.  
 
  1. STAND FIRM  In your testimony
9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
vs. 9
Here Paul mentions the reality of hell.  And the worst part of hell is not the weeping and gnashing of teeth, or the unquenchable fire, but it is the absence of the presence of God.  Hell is just as eternal for those who do not know God as heaven is eternal for those who do know God.
Annihilationism is a philosophy that says when people die, their bodies are completely destroyed…they go away.  But the Bible doesn’t teach that.  The word here for destruction (Olethros) means devastation, not annihilation.
Universalism is a philosophy that all human beings will eventually be reconciled with God or the divine.  There are those who argue this as doctrine and hold certain scriptures to make their case.  But we do not ascribe to that philosophy in this church.
We hold to the traditional and Biblical belief that Hell is a real place, and real souls will be there for a very real eternity.  (Matt. 25, Rev. 14, and Rev. 20)
Now because we believe in a literal heaven and a literal hell, it is makes the need for us to live lives that are worthy of His calling all the more important!
10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admiredamong all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.
vs. 10  Admired: – greek word – Thoumadzo.   It actually means to be awestruck and overwhelmed with amazement.    Paul is describing  with this word how believers will react with absolute wonder and marvel at the majesty and glory of Jesus Christ when He returns
Paul is saying it was his testimony that led these people to Christ, and it’s our testimony that leads others to Christ!
11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
There’s the definition of our testimony right there in vs. 12!
The word “testimony” comes from the same root word that we got our word Martyr.
It means that you are living as a witness to the truth, no matter what the cost – even if it costs you your life.
You are staking your life on your testimony.
Isn’t that true?
Our testimony is our life in Christ.  And Christ working in us!
It is Christ doing His constant work of grace in us.  And as a result,
It is us bringing glory to Christ in all that we say and do.
Don’t ever forget that you wear His name!  He has branded your soul.  So it’s more than just a t-shirt or a cross necklace.  You represent Christ in every conversation. Every day of the week.   Every place we go.  Every activity we participate in.
American Express – “Don’t leave home without it.”
You don’t leave home without Him.  He is working in you at all times!
Newsong:
We wear His name.
the name above all names
We wear HIs name.
In a world that’s lost in hopelessness
We’ve been called to be the light.
We Wear His name
Your testimony is your reputation.  As a believer, it’s all you have!  You lose your testimony, then you lose your reputation.  You lose your reputation, then You lose your integrity with believers and non-believers alike!  And trust me, they are watching!
Your testimony takes a lifetime to build – and only one moment to break.  
 
Tigert Woods Illustration  – the world’s first billion dollar athlete.
10% he made from golf.
90% he made from endorsements.
Thanksgiving night  – Nov. 26, 2009 – when we all saw his world come crumbling down.
We discovered Tiger was living a double life.
Everyone of us has an on stage life and a backstage life.
If you want your testimony to remain in tact – with character and integrity – then your on stage life should match your backstage life and your backstage life should match your onstage life.
Our walk must match our talk
 
Paul was so genuine in His walk with Christ that he even would say:
1 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me.
  Paul urges his followers to watch his testimony, believe his testimony and imitate his life in Christ.
Would you or I be able to say that to someone?
Is our testimony one that can be counted as worthy of His calling?
Stand firm in your testimony!   
 
Chapter 2 
The people of the church of Thessalonica were troubled because they had two main questions that were concerning them.
  1. Are we in the great tribulation?
  2. Did we miss the rapture?
These people were facing major persecution.
As a result of this persecution, they think they are going through the great tribulation. Especially under Emperor Nero.
So Paul writes these words in chapter 2 to help them understand that they are NOT in the great tribulation.
2 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
The Thessalonians had gotten confused, either by way of some other teacher or letter claiming to be from Paul, about the order of things to come.  So in verses 3-12, Paul explains to them the correct sequence of events as it relates to the rapture of the church and the second coming of Christ. (the day of the Lord).
He assures them that the Day of the Lord had not come and that certain things must take place before that day comes.
He goes into greater detail here.  And gives us great insight as to the AntiChrist that is mentioned in both Daniel 7 and Revelation 13.
 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
This is a very clear mentioning of the AntiChrist.
But before the antiChrist comes to power, certain specific things wil happen.
The Rapture –
The falling away – a specific event when there will be a great amount of people abandoning the faith and in rebellion rejecting the things of God
AntiChrist will appear on the world scene – 
The Temple – 
 
5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.
Paul doesn’t mention specifically what are those things restraining the coming of the antichrist, but he must have mentioned them to the Thessalonians at some point.  He reminds them here.  It could be a number of things:   human government, the preaching of the gospel, God’s providential timing , the church, The Holy Spirit.  Regardless, God has a moment planned for all this to happen.
So in the meantime, the work of the church goes on.
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
This is not referring to the rapture, but rather the second coming of Jesus when he will conquer the forces of Satan for good and will set up the millennial kingdom here on earth.   (Rev. 19)
God will purposefully step aside when it comes time for the AntiChrist to come to power.   (vs 7).  But only for a short while.
During this time the Antichrist will rule the world and blatantly oppose anything that has to do with God.  He will literally be controlled by Satan himself and will cause massive destruction.
But Good news!   God will not allow this man to rule for long. (3 1/2 years)  For the position of ruler of the world, is rightfully that of Jesus Christ.   When that day comes, Jesus will destroy the antiChrist and his partner – the false prophet – in just a single breath.
NO, Jesus doesn’t have gengivitis.
This is a picture of just how powerful Jesus is.
This should make us grateful church, that we still have time to reach our friends and neighbors with the good news of the gospel. There is still time!
Paul writes all of this to encourage the believers in Thessalonica that they are not in the tribulation, the rapture has not taken place, so get back to work doing what God has called you to do.
So he begins to make his way back now into encouraging them in their walk with Christ.
  1. STAND FIRM on the truth 
2:9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
NOt only will those things happen then, they are happening now.
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, we experienced something in our nation that hadn’t happened since Pearl Harbor.   We were attacked on our own soil by an enemy that we didn’t realize was our greatest threat. 
We were not prepared. We did not have the enemy sized up properly. Our guard was down.
You probably remember where you were when we all watched in horror as those World Trade Center towers fell. 
 
9/11 commission report
Released on July 22, 2004.
585 page report.
Here’s a direct quote:
We learned about an enemy who is sophisticated, patient, disciplined, and lethal. its hostility toward us and our values is limitless. Its purpose is to rid the world of religious and political pluralism, the plebiscite, and equal rights for women. It makes no distinction between military and civilian targets. Collateral damage is not in its lexicon. . . .
We learned that the institutions charged with protecting our borders…did not adjust their policies, plans, and practices to deter or defeat it.
We need to design a balanced strategy for the long haul, to attack terrorists and prevent their ranks from swelling while at the same time protecting our country against future attacks.
We are in the same kind of battle with the enemy today.  Not just with radical Isamic terrorists in our nation, but with something perhaps even more lethal.   We are fighting against Satan’s most lethal weapon – the erosion and the dilution and the perversion of truth.  
   It is all around us.  If Satan can cause us to question the truths of God’s word, then he can attack us from anywhere at anytime.  
You don’t have to look far to see how far we, as a nation, have fallen prey to these schemes.   Truth is being questioned from every side.    
in so doing, we are witness to what Paul describes in
Romans 1:25 “They exchange the truth for a lie.” 
What is truth?  – Pontius Pilate asked this of Jesus. And then walked away.   Ironically, Pilate was staring truth in the face.  
Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the Life.” 
 
People who choose sin and lies over the truth of the gospel will ultimately suffer God’s wrath.  And those who continually reject Him  will eventually become blind to the truth.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
It is good for us to be reminded of this over and over again.
Because non-believers often function as though they are blind.  And when we see their actions, it ought to fill us with compassion because they cannot see the light of the truth.  
Therefore, it is our responsibility to show them the truth – in love.  
It has been Satan’s ploy since the very beginning of time to blind mankind to truth.   God’s truth.   He uses all kinds of clever ways to put doubt in to our minds, to blur our vision, cloud our thoughts, and pull our attention away from what we know is right.  He roams the earth seeking whom he may devour, but he doesn’t do it in a red leather costume with a pointed tail and a flaming pitchfork.  
No,  he’s much more clever than that.  He and all his forces of darkness work to infiltrate our hearts with 1/2 truths and attractive temptations in all kinds of areas in our lives where he knows we are weak.  Whether it is lust, or greed, or jealousy, or pride or a host of other things, Satan uses those weaknesses to trap us into sin.  To distort truth.   
CS Lewis – Screwtape Letters 
Screwtape outlines several specific ways the Underworld distorts reality to pull humans away from God:
  • Subtle Redefinition: By quietly changing the meaning of words, devils make good things seem toxic. Screwtape writes that they twist the meaning of humility to mean having a low opinion of oneself, thereby turning it into a focus on the ego.
  • We live in the age of relativism – where truth is something you get to define.  You get to pick what is YOUR truth.  And our relativistic society is obsessed with having the right to proclaim our own truths as THE truth and you’d better not step on my truth or you are an intolerant bigot who deserves to be canceled in society.  We see this everyday…Truth is being redefined in our society and it is leading to chaos because absolute truths and a  Biblical standard of truth are out of style.
  • “The Historical Point of View”: This is a brilliant tactic to dismantle truth. Instead of asking if an ancient truth (like Christian doctrine) is still true, devil uses tactics to train humans to ask how the idea fits the historical context. This completely isolates generations from one another, allowing new, fashionable falsehoods to take hold without challenge because the generation that came before us simply hadn’t evolved in their thinking like we have in the current generation.
  • What was once a normal and good idea – like only men in men’s locker rooms  playing men’s sports and only women in women’s locker rooms  playing women’s sports – is now questioned and viewed as antiquated thinking.
  • Distraction by Noise: Devils distort reality by ensuring the world is too loud to hear God’s still, small voice. Screwtape boasts, “We will make the whole universe a noise in the end.”
  • The Power of Omission: Screwtape admits, “It is funny how mortals always picture us as putting things into their minds: in reality our best work is done by keeping things out.” They simply omit the truth from a person’s view until it vanishes from their reality.
According to C.S. Lewis, the ultimate danger is not outright rejection of the truth, but the gradual, gentle slope away from it. This iconic quote summarizes the essence of how the devil and the forces of evil slowly degrade a human’s sense of morality and reality:
“It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing… Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”
Before you know it, you look up and he has you right where he wants you.  In a confused, distorted and redifined reality of “truth” that isn’t really truth at all.  And if enough people in society and leadership have this distorted view, then they are able to influence and shape our culture the way they want it.  So they work tirelessly to put this philosophy in the classrooms of our schools, in school textbooks, in positions of all levels of government, in the mass media, in major motion pictures, in sitcoms and tv shows, in mainstream books, in pop-culture music,  in every level of athletics, in celebrations of holidays and in some cases….even the pulpits of our churches!   
And if they can do that, then in just one 20 year generation – just one – truth as we know it – will have disappeared or at the very least been re-defined.  
That, my friends, is why it is CRUCIAL that we, as the body of Christ – Stand Firm in the truth!  and hold the traditions (or the teachings)  which you were taught, right here in the word of truth!
Read the truth
Fill your mind with the truth
Seek the truth.   
Embrace the truth
Defend the truth
Define the truth
Speak the truth
Live the Truth!!
 
No matter what tribulations come your way.  NO matter how many bullets the enemy shoots at you.  No matter what sort of difficulty you face. Stand fast.  Stand firm.
If you will, then just like old Fort McHenry, at dawn when the smoke settles and you reach the end of your battle – you’ll still be standing strong because Christ has given you the strength to do so and … (show cross picture right here)
2:13….because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.
Stand firm in your troubles and your tribulations. 
Stand firm in your testimony.  
Stand firm on the truth.
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
That is my prayer for you.  And that is my prayer for our nation.
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